Send Middle East peace message to President Bush, EPPN urges
Episcopal News Service. May 5, 2008 [050508-01]
The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) is urging citizens throughout the United States to write President George W. Bush, ahead of his May 13-18 visit the Middle East, emphasizing the need for "robust diplomatic leadership to create a climate in which negotiations for the establishment of a viable State of Palestine alongside a secure Israel can continue and yield substantive progress."
To write to President Bush today, click here.
A recent EPPN alert, which is emailed to more than 21,000 Episcopalians, recognizes that the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict "brings continuing pain to both Palestinians and Israelis and destabilizes the region."
The alert acknowledges that the hopes raised at the Annapolis conference, convened by Bush in November 2007, "are being dashed daily by both the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements, the crisis in Gaza, and ongoing violence by militant groups."
At the Annapolis conference, Palestinian Authority President Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert agreed to launch formal peace talks and work for an agreement before the end of 2008 that would include "final status" issues such as borders, the future of Palestinian refugees and of Jerusalem.
The EPPN alert recognizes that the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict "also threatens U.S. national security. A failed Annapolis process will only serve to strengthen extremist elements throughout the region."
Resources
ENS articles on Presiding Bishop's visit to the Holy Land:
- http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95961_ENG_HTM.htm
- http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95937_ENG_HTM.htm
- http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95934_ENG_HTM.htm
- http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95904_ENG_HTM.htm
- http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95876_ENG_HTM.htm
General Convention and Executive Council Resolutions:
- Express Thankfulness for Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty
- Affirm Goals of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation for Israelis and Palestinians
- Support a Two-state Solution for Israel and the Palestinian People
- Urge a Peaceful Resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Churches for Middle East Peace
The Church is an active member of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition of 22 Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations and institutions seeking to advance the cause of Middle East peace with the Administration and the Congress. Read about the CMEP conference, “Calming the Storm -- Middle East Peacemaking in a Turbulent Time, here.
An ENS story on the CMEP conference is available here.